Fracture reduction and retention device



July 22, 1941. E11-WGBH4 2,250,417

FRACTURE REDUCTION AND RETENTION DEVICE Filed Dec. 2, 1959 y 2 sheets-sheet 1 l II Il II Il Il ll Il I HIT- mm llllllllly' July 22, 1941.- J. J. ETTINGER FRACTURE AREDUGTION AND RETENTION DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet '2 Filed new.` 2, 1939 Patented July 2.2, V1941 FRACTRE REDU'rIoN AND nETENTroN nevica Joe J. Ettinger, Warsaw, lInd., assignor to Zimmer Manufacturing Company, a corporation of Indiana Application December 2, 1939, Serial No. 307,192

14 Claims.

ticable to leave it in place and serve as a retention device, thereby making a cast unnecessary. y

Since, in my improved device. provision must be made for angulation, rotation and extension, my invention may be said to have for its object to produce a simple, novel and eiiicient apparatus for accomplishing these ends.

The various features of novelty whereby my invention is characterized will hereinafter be pointed out with particularity in the claims; but, for a full understanding of my invention and ofv its objects and advantages, reference may be had to the following detailed description" taken in connection with the accompanying drawings,

wherein: e

Figure 1' is a top plan view of a device embodying my invention in a preferred form, the bonetransxing screws being shown in dotted lines as occupyingdiiierent positions from the full line position; Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the device, illustrating conditions which exist at the time of attaching the device to the fractured bone shown in dotted lines; Fig. 3 is a. section on line 3 3' of' Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is an end view of a modified form of rod or bar; Fig. 5 is .an end view, on' a somewhat larger scale,`showing the end which is at the left in Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5, with parts shown in section, and one-of the bar in one direction or the other by backing oif one nut and screwing the other one ahead, and which may be held against rotation on the bar in any suitable way. In the main form illustrated, the bar is cylindrical and is provided with a longitudinal key-way B into which proigcts 'a projection or key 'I integral with or xed the member 5. In the arrangement shown in Fig. 4, the bar 8 vhas a cross section that is a square with the corners rounded as atV il; the rounded corners forming part of a circle whose center is at the center of the square. Thus. when y a bar of this type is threaded, the threaded sections .at the corners are separated from each other by flat faces. Therefore, if the part 5 have a square bore, it can slide along the bar, while the nuts 'can cooperate with the screw threads as devices to move the sleeve along the barand to lock it in any position of adjustment.

Projecting radially from the part 5, to which I shall hereafter refer as a sleeve, is a tubular post Il divided along one side and provided with ears i2 lying on opposite sides of the division line. A screw I4 extending loosely through one ear and into the other serves as a means to draw the ears together and thus contract the post. Fitting into the post is a round stem i5 which may be locked in any given position by the frictional grip-of the post thereon, upon tightening the screw I4 but which, when the screw is loosened, may be removed from the post or be shifted lengthwise or angularly.

The end face is of the head 2 is fiat and lies at fight angles to the axis of the bar.` Cooperating with the head is a. thick, at plate i1 0f the same length-and width as the head 2. Be-

tween the plate Il and the rear face i6 ofthe head is a segmental member i8. Means are provided to shiftA this segmental member about the units for eifecting'skeletal attachment beingl 40 its DWH a-XS which is 011e that 1S 'Parallel for movements along tlie same. In the arrange- 50 ment shown, the bar -is externally screwthreaded and is provided with two nuts`3 and d adapted to engage with opposite ends -of a relatively small, sleeve-likepart 5 which is slidable with the bar tand is spaced apart therefrom.

In the arrangement shown, the .member i8 is in the form of a plate having a curved slot i9 extending throughout almost thev entire length vand screwed into the head 2 isa clamping screw 2i by means of which the member i'may be held stationary. Loose onA the screw 2|, within the slot, is a small pinion 22 meshing with the gear teeth 20 that extends across substantially the full' width of the slot.. There is a. short shaft 24 extending through the plate I1. and seated at its along the bar, which 'may be forcibly moved along 55 inner end in a socket 25 in the head 2. Projecting from the face I6 extending at right of the head 2, about midway between the pinions 22 and 28, but a little to one side of a line connecting the centers of the pinions, is a lug 23 which engages the plain long edge of the slot I9. Fixed to or forming part of this shaft is a pinion 26 similar to the pinion 22, while on the outer end thereof is a head 21 of considerable size adapted to be grasped to turn the shaft and thereby shift the member I8 angularly in one direction or the other. It will be seen that when it is desired to shift the member I8, the. screw 2| need only be loosened to leave said member free to be moved by the pinion 28. Then, when the screw 2I is again tightened, the arc-shaped member is locked in place. 'I'he two pinions 22 and 26 and the lug 23 provide a threepoint bearing for the member and serve to keep it from rocking except about the center of the arc upon which it is struck.

Projecting radially from the concave side of the segmental member I8 is a tubular post4 28 similar to the post II; this post having ears I2 with which is associated the clamping screw I4. A 'detachable stem I5 is adapted to be inserted in the post, being removable and adjustable angulargly and lengthwise, and being adapted to be locked to the post by the frictional grip of the latter.

Associated with each of the two stems I is a short sturdy cross arm 29. Each cross armV pair are symmetrically disposed with respect to the two axes aboutwhich each of the cor- -responding cross 'arms 28 can rock relatively to lines in Figs.' i

fixing screws can be rocked to the right or to the has in one side thereof, at the middle, a

frusto-conical socket 30 which merges into a screw-threaded bore 3i that continues out through the opposite side. Each stem I5.has at its outer end a attened part 32 provided,

with a frusto-conical projection 34 complemen-I tary to the soclet 30. A screw '35 extends through each of the f lat members 32 at the axis ofthe frusto-conical projection, and into the screw-threaded bore 3i in the corresponlixigcross arm 29. When the screw 35 is tightened,

the cross arm is locked to the stem. When the screw is loosened, the ,cross arm may be swung about the axis of the screw. In other words,

each cross arm is capable of being shifted angularly about two axes at right angles to each other; and, in addition, the arm associated with the segmental member I8 may be swung bodily about an axis parallel to the main supporting bar I and at some distance therefrom. Y,

The parts are so proportioned that when the center of the segmental member I8 is about midway between the pinions 22 and 26, namely at about the axis ofthe main bar I, the two posts II and 28 lie parallel to each other on the same side of that bar, as shown in Figs. 1 and 5.

The axis about which the vsegmental member is adapted to swing lies out wardly beyond the ends of the stems I5 when the latter are fitted in their respective posts; thus permitting a bo'ne' to be located so that its long axis will be coincident with that axis.l Thus, by providing the two stems with suitable means for effecting skele. tal attachment with the bone on opposite sides of a fracture in the latter, one fragment of bone may be rotated relatively to the other, when-l ever necessary.

In the arrangement shown, the skeletal attachment. means comprises pairs of sturdy screw-Q threaded pins 36; there being one of these pins extending through each end of each :cross arm; the pins of each pair being shown as supporting arms.' Each pin is held in place by a suitable set screw 3l.

the post that supports the'sa'me. Thus, when the parts are in-the positions illustrated in full 1 and. 5, each pair of bone-transleft and be locked in any desired position. Furthermore, by loosening the set screws I4 that hold the stems I5 against rotation, the stems may be oscillated so that the four bone-transilxing screws no longer lie in the same plane; the dotted lines in Fig'. 5 showing them swung through a considerable angle about the axis which is radial vto the main supporting bar I.

In using the device, it will be seen that the units for effecting skeletal attachment may be adjusted relatively from and toward each other by loosening lthe nuts 3 and 4 and shifting the unit that includes the sleeve 5 lengthwise of the bar I; the nuts being then screwed up against the ends of the sleeve so as to hold the two units inv proper spaced relation to each other. The parts of each unit may then be adjusted. For example, as shown in Fig. 2, the two pairs lof bone-transxing screws are no longer in the with the axis of the fragment A, while the other is parallel to the axis ofthe fragment B. After the screws havegbeen properly inserted in the bone-fragments, the nut 4 is backed off and .the nut 3j is screwed against its end of the sleeve 5, so as to push the unit associated with this sledeve farther from the other unit and thus produce the necessary extension of the member containing the fractured bone. If rotation be desired, then the toothed segment may be shifted in the manner heretofore described. The screw-supporting arms 29 maybe swung about the radial axes until the axes of the two bone fragments are brought into alignment.

-With the meeting ends of the bone fragments in proper registration with each other, all of the movable parts of the device are fixed in the positions 'which they then occupy and may then remain undisturbed,"until the bone1 has knitted;

` there beingno need to apply a cast to retain the angles'to their respective 'The pins of each 75` bone fragments in their proper positions, because this can satisfactorily be done by the device itself. Of course, if itbe desired lto employ a cast and to remove the comparatively small, light supporting arm with its post elements, the screws holding the stems I5 in the tubular post may be loosened, so that the main supporting 4bar and the stem-carrying parts may be lifted oif and leave only the immediate ,skeletal attaching devices on 'the patient.

It will thusbe seen that I have produced a small, light', compact 'device which 'effectively serves all of the purposes of the usual apparatus that possesses many times its buik and weight; my deviceA possessing the important advantage over the older apparatuses that it may be worn by the patient until the bone has knitted. without requiring the application of a plaster cast for retention of the bone fragments. At the same time, if desired, the arm or leg that is being treated may be placed in a cast in the simply the best form of the invention nowV I known to me; and that the invention is notv limited to the particular details so illustrated and described, but covers all forms coming within the denitions of my invention constituting the appended claims. I also wish toA point Y out that while the word sleeve is usedsin the specification and claims for the sake. of brevity, this word is intended to cover any small, light part asv distinguished from a heavy cumbersome member that serves as a supporting base or foot for a fracture-reducing apparatus.

`post, a member mounted directly on one end of the said bar so as to be held against vmovement 1 along the same and be adjustable about an axis parallel with and spaced apart from the bar and intersecting the axis of the aforesaid stem extended, a detachable stem mounted on said mem` ber so as to be radial to the said axis parallel to the bar and .be rotatable about its own axis, cross arms pivoted at their middle to the Y.outer ends of the stems, and bone-transxing elements on the ends of each cross arm.

at its middle to the outer end of each stem for rocking movements about an axis transverse to that stem, and bone-transxlng screwsl projecting outwardly from the ends of each. arm at right angles to the latter and in about the plane of the cross arm and its stem.

I 4. An ambulatory splint and fracture reduction device 'consisting of a Ascrew-threaded bar adapted to lie along a fractured limb and across the fracture andv to be supported by the limb, a sleeve slidable on the bar and interlocked therewith so as to be held against rotation thereon, nuts on the bar at opposite ends of the sleeve to move the latter into and secure it in anydesired position along the bar, a 4tubular post projecting radially from the sleeve, a detachable stem rotatable in and projecting beyond said post, a cross arm pivoted at its middle to the outer end of the stem, bone-transI-lxing pins secured to the ends of said cross arm and projecting therefrom in about the plane of the arm and stem, a head on one end of the said bar, an arc-shaped member mounted on said head so as to be adjustable about an axis parallel with and spaced apart from therbar and intersecting the said bone-transxing pins, a second tubular post on and extending radially of said arc-shaped member, a detachable stem 2. An ambulatory splint and fracture reduction device consisting of a bar, a sleeve slidable on the bar and interlocked therewith so as to beheld against rotation thereon, means o'n the bar to move the sleeve along the bar and secure it in any desired position, a short tubular post pro-l jecting radially from the sleeve, a member said laxis parallel to the bar and each be rotatable about its own axis, a cross armpivoted at its middle to the outer end of each stem for'rocking movements about an axis at right angles, and bone-transxing elements mounted on the ends of each cross arm so as to lie in the plane .ofthe arm and its supporting stem and at about right angles to the arm. ,f

3. An ambulatory splint and fracture reduction device consisting of a bar, a sleeve slidable .on the bar and interlocked therewith so as to be held against rotation thereon, means on the bar to' move the sleeve along the bar and secure it in any desired position, a short tubular post projecting radially from athe sleeve, a member mounted directly on an end of the said .bar s o as to be held against movement along the same and. be adjustable about 'an axisparallel .with

'and' spaced apart from the bar and intersecting the. said post extended, aftubular post on said member -radial to the last-mentioned axis, a de. tachable stem mounted in each post so as-to be rotatable about its own axis, a cross arm pivoted the bar and interlocked therewith so as to prevent-relative rotary movements, means on the bar to move the sleeve along the same and hold it in any position into which it may be brought,

a tubular, contractile post projecting radially from the sleeve, a stem extending axially into the lpost from the outer end of and rotatable in the latter, means to contract the post and clamp 'said stem against rotation, bone-engaging elements carried by said stem so as to project beyond the latter away from the bar and be adjustable thereon angularly about an axis at right angles thereto, a small head fixed on one end of the bar, a member mounted on said head so 'j as to be held against movement-lengthwise of the bar and be adjustable angularly about the axis of the fractured bone," a short, tubular post projecting from said member radial to the lastnamed axis, a second stem projecting from the latter post and rotatable therein, means to se-4 cure said second stem against rotation in its post, and bone-engaging elements carried by said second stem and adjustable thereon about an axis at right angles thereto.

6. In an ambulatory extension and reduction fracture apparatus, a supporting rod adapted to lie parallel to a fractured limb and across the fracture, a pin holding block secured to one endof the rod, a second pin holding block slidably secured on the rod, and means for positively movj ing said slidably mounted block awayfrom the other block.

' '7. In an ambulatory extension and reduction fracture apparatus, a supporting rod adapted to lie parallel toafractured limb and across the fracture, a pin holding'block secured to one end of th'erod, a second pinholding block slidably secured on the road, lthe securing means of each block providing movement of each block with respect to the rod in two mutually perpendicular axes.

8. In an ambulatory extension and reduction fracture apparatus. a supporting rod adapted to lie parallelY to a fractured limb' and across the fracture, a member slidably secured on said rod, a second member secured to one end of the rod, the securing means for said second member holding it against movement lengthwise of the rod and providing movement thereof angularly with respect to the' rod, bone-engaging pins on each, of said members, and means for positively mov-` ing the first of said members away from the second member. s

9. In an ambulatory extension and reduction fracture apparatus, a supporting rod adapted to lie parallel to a fractured limb and across the fracture, a member slidably secured on said rod, a second member secured to one end of the rod, the securing means for said second member holding it against movement lengthwise of the rod and providing movement thereof angularly with respect to the rod about an axis parallel to and spaced apart from the rod, parallel stems, each rotatable about its own axis, projecting from said members on the same side and radially of the rod, and bone-engaging pins carried on said stems.

10. In an' ambulatory extension and reduction fracture apparatus, a supporting rod adapted to lie parallel to a. fractured limb and across the fracture. a member slidably secured on said rod, a second member secured to one end of the rod,- the securing means for 'said second member holding it against movement lengthwise of the rod and providing movement thereof angularly with 12. In an ambulatory extension and reduction fracture apparatus, a supporting rod adapted to lie parallel to a fractured limb and across the fracture, a member slidably secured upon the rod, a head on one end of the rod having a fiat outer face positioned at right angles to the rod. a second member lying fiat against said face, said second member having therein an elongated l slot forming an arc of a circle whose center is respect to the rod about an axis parallel to and spaced apart from the `roti, parallel stems, each rotatable about its own axis, projecting from said members on the same side and radially of the rod, cross arms pivoted midway between their ends to the outer ends of said stems, and bone-engaging pins at opposite ends of each cross arm.

1l. In an ambulatory extension and reduction fracture apparatus, a supporting rod adapted to lie parallel to a fractured limb and across the fracture, a member slidably secured upon/the rod, a head on .one end of the rod having a fiat outer face positioned at right angles to the rod,

a second member lying flat against said face, means securing the second member to thehead and providing turning movements of that memberrelatively to the rod about an axis spaced' apart from and parallel to the rod, and means including bone-engaging pins projecting from said members past said axis to secure the apparatus to the bone inthe fractured limb.

remote from said rod, a vstationary guide element on said head projecting into said slot and engaged with one long edge of the latter, two pinions rotatably mounted on said head and extending into said slot on opposite sides of said guide element, the second long edge of the slot having teeth meshing with said pinions, means to turn one of said pinions, and means on said members, including bone-engaging pins, to secure the apparatus to the bone in the fractured limb.

e 13. In an ambulatory extension and reduction fracture apparatus, a supporting rod adapted 'to lie parallel to a fractured limb and across the fracture, a member slidably secured upon the rod, a head on one end of the rod having a flat outer face positioned at right angles to the rod, a second member lying flat against said face, said second member having therein an elongated slot forming an arc of a circle whose center is remote from .said rod, a stationary guide element on said head projecting into said slot and engaged with one long edge of the latter, two pinions positioned in said slot on opposite sides of said guide element, means rotatably supporting one of said pinions on said head, means to turn the latter pinion, a clamping device for -said secon'd member including a screw extending a secondmember secured to one end of the rod,

the securing means for said second member holding it against.v movement lengthwise of the rod and providing movement thereof angularly with respect to the rod about an axis parallel to and spaced apart from the rod, parallel stems,

each rotatable about its own axis, projecting from said members radially of the rod and toward said axis, and bone-engaging pins lcarried on said stems and extending past said axis.r

JOE J. EI'I'I'NGER. 

